MONTICELLO — When Ken and Sari Aronson moved to East Central Illinois in 1988, they quickly fell in love with Allerton Park and Retreat Center. Lovers of both nature and architecture, Sari said it was the perfect place to go for a stroll with their pets.
“We’re interested in architecture. We love gardens and you have this incredibly beautiful Mansion with these exquisitely planned Formal Gardens. It’s just amazing,” she said.
So when the couple decided to give back, they knew just where to go. They recently made a six-figure gift that will renovate Room 7 in the Mansion — known as Agnes’ room and named after the stepmother of estate creator Robert Allerton.
Ken said the momentum being created at the Park through other upgrades and the creation of The Farms: An Allerton Folk School convinced him that supporting Allerton was an easy decision.
“We wanted to pile on the momentum and success the team has put together. It’s impressive,” he said. “This is about as good as you could hope for and easy to help because you know it will be done well.”
Room 7 was the guest bedroom of Agnes Allerton when she visited the Monticello estate. Located at the top of the grand staircase, the spacious room has two queen beds, a sofa bed, en suite bathroom and a seating area overlooking the Reflecting Pond and Meadow.
Like most spaces designed in the early 1900s, an update is needed and is being planned with the help of designer Anne Carlson. The owner of Champaign-based Anne Carlson Designs, she has helped with several Mansion room projects in recent years, which have provided updates while remaining true to the historical vision of those spaces.
For Agnes’ room, she will make more of a “feminine space,” with detailed painted furniture representing a different era, some antiques and reproductions, along with some new pieces that will reflect the history of the Mansion.
“A soft pallet with floral and botanical details seemed fitting design details to reflect the gardens and grounds of Allerton, while evoking a feminine sensibility,” Carlson said.
A pull-out sofa is also planned in addition to the two queen-sized beds, giving the space the ability to accommodate up to six guests.
The Aronsons, both doctors in the Champaign-Urbana area, are happy to help with the update of another room in the Mansion.
“Allerton has given us so much and we were so excited there was something that we cared about — in architecture and design — to help us give back,” said Sari.
The project is currently in the design phase, with work set to begin this winter.
